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Quarantine May Stop Black Caviar HK Trip

Wednesday, 22nd June 2011

Meanwhile Hong Kong Jockey Club officials fear Australia's quarantine regulations may prevent unbeaten 6-time Gr1-winning 4YO mare Black Caviar (Bel Esprit-Helsinge, by Desert Sun) from racing at the HK International Carnival at Sha Tin in December, reported The South China Morning Post. HKJC officials met representatives of the Australian Quarantine & Inspection Service on Monday to clarify quarantine arrangements for Australian thoroughbreds visiting HK in December, after AQIS “tightened protocols for horses returning to Australia from HK & other Asian precincts”. The HKJC “is desperate to see Black Caviar race at Sha Tin” & HKJC director of racing Bill Nader confirmed: “We are trying to ensure we meet the guidelines to facilitate the movement of horses specifically between Australia & Hong Kong. The problem for us is that the goalposts have been moving. The rules have been changing & we are within guidelines one minute, then outside them. We would hate to be in a position that we think we are okay & then lose the filly (Black Caviar) later in the year because things have changed again.” Nader said HKJC head of international liaison Dr Brian Stewart had been working on an outcome with AQIS, but Nader noted: “I don't know if we will get it finalised right now but, by having the AQIS people come & see everything for themselves, we will try to get a more solid outcome than what has been happening in the past.”